Coal-mining machine



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July s'. 1924.v A 1,500,352 `LWALKER I COAL MINING MACHINE File@ Feb. 4. 1921 4 sheets-sheet 2 l INVENTOR James Ffa/Ker.

July s. 1924.

- J. WALKER coAL MINING MACHINE 4 sheets-she t Filed Feb. 4.

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ATTORNEY -July'8 1924. 1,500,352

I J. WALKER coAL MINING MACHINE INVENTOR v l James )Va/Ker'.

, BY i i fr; ATTORNEYS/,L 1

Patented July 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES um wanna, or NErrLnroN, mmvam coen-mme mem. l

Application nled February 4, 1921. Serial .'I'o. 448,501.

To all whom may concern: y n Be it known that I, JAMES WAL a citizen of the United States, residing at ettleton, in the county of Cambria and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful 'Improvements in Coal-Mining Machines` of which the following is a speciication. Y a

This invention, which relates generally to improved means for mining coal, is more particularly directed to .improvements vin that class of motor actuated mining machines in which the elements that constitute the machine provide for readily shifting the entire mechanism, from one position to another, inthe chamber in which the cuts are being made and by which the cutting elements are advanced into the -coal vein, and, after makingthe primary incut into the Wall, the. said. elements, together with the entire machine structure, can be caused to move laterally, in either direction, to e'ect the cutting across and the removal of the vface of the coal tol a depth vequal that of the primary penetration ofthe cutting elements, at rthe start, the power means for actuating the cutting elements and eecting the lateral adiustment or shifting of the entire mechanism being effected wholly by rthe power means obtained directly from the motor, which constitutes apart ofand travels with the machine. v

Generically, myinvention embodies an improved construction of coal mining ma-A 85 chine of the character described, in which the operative parts are -especially designed for transporting the complete machine acro the door or base of the cut and in such positions relatively tothe wall to be cut, whereby the cutting elements may be entered to begin the operation of effecting the primary or directly forward cut and, after making the said primary incut the full height of the chamberbeing mined, to then provide for the lateral travelling of the cutting elements and the automatic travel of the machine, as the face of the wall,A crosswise ofthe chamber, is being mined.

Among other objects, my invention seeks the character mentioned, an improved arrangement and construction of a base frame, a driving motor, cuttlng elements,

' adapte to provide, in a coal mining mechanism of .power transmission cooperative' with, the,

motor and the cutting elements and includl5 ing flexible connections, all so combined, whereby to rovide aunit of mechanism,

,'un er its own power, for travelling across the mine floor and the place of beginning the-cut and then readily adjusted for causing -the machine with-its cutting. elements, to automatically move laterally across the wall being min Another and essential object of my invention, is to provide,'n a' self-propelling coal minlng machine, an improved construction and arrangement of avertically ositioned rotarycutting head, which exten s the full height of the chamber4 being cut-,whose psp-f per'and lower ends are adapted for adj 'N ment to suit the varying heights of the chambers and which operate to cut the top i and bottom ends of the cuts, as the said cutting elements are caused to travel either directly into orlaterallyA across the wall' bein mined. urthermore, lmy invention comprehends, in a self-driven coal min' machinefan improved construction of exiblepower transmission, including pull' cables for dragging the machine in straight lateral direction, when effecting the cutting operatlon or in a forward direction, when travelling into the cut for being placed at the prima cutting position along the face of the wa to be reduced.

The said flexible transmission also includes a novel arrangement of a pair of winding drums with which-the pull cables cooperate and means for controlling the unwnding action of the drum for causing the said drum tov wind in or pay o ut the pull cables in such manner that effects .the desired lateral advancing of the entire machine and the-cutting means that constitutes a part thereof. v A still further object of my invention 1s to provide,4 in a coal mining machine of the general arrangement mentioned, an` m1-- proved means for conveying the cuttings made by the reducing elements, to the rear of the machine and in such manner that the said cuttings may be readily removed, mechanically or otherwise, to the dump.

With other more subordinate features that will hereinafter be brought out, my 1n- I vof my coal mining4 machine, taken substantially on the line 1-1 on Figure 2, the motr and the lcutting elements Ibeing shown in elevation.`

Figure 2 isa plan' view of my invention,

parts'being in horizontal section and illustrates. the correlativa connection of a flexible power transmission, one of the winding coal conveyor drumstherefor being brokenaway for the purpose of illustration.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 3 3 on Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrow, parts being shown in end. elevation.

Figure 4 is a detail face view, partly in section, of one of the winding drums and its cooperative driving pinion and brake device.

Figure 5 is a detail diagrammatic plan view illustratin one means of driving the evices..

Figures 6 and 7 are detail perspective views of two--types of cutter members adapo ed for being used in connection with the rotary cutter head.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through the cutter-head and illustrating an extended adjustment thereof.

'Figure 9 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the invention in varied positions. l

In the drawings is illustrated a practical arrangement of a'coal mining machine in which is embodied my invention, it being understood that the exact proportions and the cooperative vconnections may be modified or varied to suit the peculiar formation of the coal veins, thin or low, head room, &c.

My machine is especially designedv for the compact assemblage of the operative parts and includes improved means that provide for readily shifting it from one position tb another within the chambers of the mine, and to that end, the mechanism, that constitutes the machine proper, yis supported upon a skid-like bottom 1 having upturned side and end flanges 2 within which the foot portions 3.0 of the machine base 3 fit and which engage the said side and end flanges,

so that as power is applied to the machine proper, for moving it forward or backward or sidewise, the machine will freely drag the bottom support l to skid over the floor of the chamber, during the operation of adjusting the machine along the work or conveying it to and from the work across the mine ioor.

Leonesa 4 designates the motor which may be of any approved type especially well adapted for mnin ',machines and it is sustaine ou the main ase 3, it being rigidly connected therewith. l

. Attached to the forward end ofthe motor casing are a pair of forwardly projecting bracket frames 5 5 whose outer ends constitute bearing sup orts -50 for the rotary cutting cylin er 6, that is vertically positioned 1n parallelism with the driving shaft hereinafter further referred to.l

n the present showing of my invention, the cutting head-6 comprises a cross-shaped body having the ends of its radial portions 52 annularly grooved for receiving the yoke-v like bearing bands 50 that are lixedly secured, in any approved manner, to the cuter ends of the bearing brackets 5,'as is clearly shown in Figures l, 2 and 5 of the drawings, from which, it will be noticed that the cutting head 6 includes a top lsection 64 on a stem 63 that is vertically adjustable within a central square socket 62 inthe head 6 to provide for settinglthe top end of the cutter' head to` suit the igh or low top wall of thedchamber in'which the machine is being use Y Drill bits 56-56 are attached to the outer edges. of theA radially projected body portions of the cylinder and to the top adjust` able section 64:, the said bits being of any Asuitable shape, for example as shown in Figures 6 and 7, and they are secured to the cutter body in any approved mannen.

The propelling mechanism, which constitutes an essentialpart of my invention, is best shown in Figures 1, 2 `and 3 of the drawings, by reference to which it will be seen the power shaft 7 from the engine carries a bevelled driving pinion that meshes with a main driving gear 8O fixed upon the main driving shaft 60 that is vertically mounted at the rear of the motor, with its upper end journaled ina long bearing 8l which constitutes a part of a housing 82 that encloses the driving mechanism and protects the same against excessive coal dust deposit, the said housing, the formation of which isl best seen in Figure 3, being supported upon and secured to the side portions 32 of the base frame 3.

The driven shaft 60 carries a vertical worm gear 83, which. at all times, meshes with an oppositely disposed pair of horizontal worm gears 85-85, each mounted on a separate shaft 86, that extend in parallelism, lengthwise of the`machine, and are mounted in separate bearings 874-87 integral with the housing valves 82.-

Each shaft 86, at the outer end thereof, has a worm gear 89v and each of the said gears 89 meshes with a worm ear 76 loosely mounted on shaft sections 7 -77 disposed transversely across the rear end of the machine and journaled in bearings 73 that areI being oppositely disposed and located, one at each side of the machine and loosely jour' naled on individual `stub shafts 10-10 that roject laterally from the upper or subrame members 35---35l of theI main frame 3, as shown.

At the upper and lower ends, the shaft carries chain drivers 12--12 provided with clutch faces 13--13. Endless power transmission chains 14-14 ass over the drivers 12-12 and over like drlvers 15-15 attached to the cutting head 6, by which, when power is applied to the chains 1414,.rotat1on is imparted to the cutter head for effecting the desired coal cutting operation.

'Clutch members 16-16 are slidably mounted on the upper and lower ends of the shaft 60 and are connected with suitable control lever devices 17,- 18 and 19, whereby the chain transmissiom'for working the cutting head, may be readily thrown into and out of connection with the power mechamsm.

Referring now more particularly to Fig-v ures 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be o served each winding drum 9 includes a hub 92 with which engage the well known type of brake band 20 cooperative with a brake lever 2l, by which the drum canbe retarded in rotation, it being understood the worm gears 76 are loosely mounted on their respective drum driving shafts 77, and at tunes connected with or disconnected from their respective shafts 77, by suitable clutch devices presently further explained, and at this oint it should be mentioned the said clutch) devices provide for 'running both drums in unison, or running one drum and cuttin accor ing to the direction desired for advancing the machine either directly toward thev face of the wall to be worked, or laterally a inst the work in either direction.

In igure 9 is shown, diagrammatically, a mine compartment and three positions of my improved minin machine and by now referring to thei sai figure, in connection with the following description, the manner of operation of my machine will be readily understood.

The three positions of the machine are as follows:

A. The machine is shown as being dragged, under its own power, to its cutting relation with the coal .wail or face to be reduced.

B. The machine is here shown as having duced.

out the other drum, at either side,

started the cutting or wall reducing act and as being dragged, laterally, directly against and in parallelism with the face belng re- C. The machine is here shown as having almost completed the reduction of the wall face to the predetermined depth, continuously across, after having travelled 1n the direction of the dotted arrows.

As has been heretofore described, the

Vdrums 9%-9-are, atftimes, to be rotated bythe small inions ;-75' at the .Y outer'end of each o the cross shaft sections 77 Wound around the drums are cables 93 and 94. with '80 one of the ends of each cable made fast to its respective drum and the other end of the said cables adapted for'being passed and rigidlyfasten the free end of the cable.

93 to a jack or other rigid member straight ahead of the machine. `The parts being in the stated position and the motive power applied, it is obvious by reason of the connection of the cable-with the drum and the rigid jack member, that by winding up the ca le, the pull being now at the left side of the machine only, the applied' power will tendto swing the machine forward and somewhat diagonally to the right, so that" the cutter head will cut a starting pocket the full height of the wall and clear u into the corner where the side wall a an the cross or face wall to be reduced, join.

After having made the initial cut at the corner, to the desired depth, the operation proceeds as follows: l

F rst step- By now passing the cable 93 mentioned over its guide shea-ve95 at the left front side of the machine and securing it to a jack or ost 100 and then 'again winding up the cal le on the drum at that side,

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Second step-The cable 94 that passes i from the drum at the right side of the mav chine is now passed'over the guide sheave 96 on the `correspondin and 1s made fast to a jack or other fixed conside of the machinel nection 101, which positions the parts exi actly as indicated by position B on the diagram Figure 9.

In order vto obviate the necessity for a isc coa wall; or in other words, to provide forA a continuous operation of reducing the coal across the entire width of the wall beed without shifting the said posi-V e machine, the cable connection 100 mayl be moved clear-over to the further side wa b, as indicated by position C.-

Positioned as at B, the machine is now in readiness to startin lateral movement for edecting the removal of the desired layer of coal Afrom the entire face of the Wall being worked, and to a uniform depth.

After having completed the travel from B to the extreme opposite side of the chamber, ater now making an initial direct bore into the opposite corner, by then clutching into operative vcondition the right windingl drum and releasing the left 'drum from winding, so it will run lfree and pay out its cable, the entire machine, while retaining its relation at right angles to the wall face being cut, can be pulled bodily, laterally, the entire width of the coal face back to the other side for ing enga tion o t then repeating its reversed transfer travel.

It should be here mentioned that any suit able means for clutching the worms 7 6-7 6 with their respective shafts 771-77, as desired, may be employed, for' example a pair of clutch sleeves 27-27, one vfor each shaft 77 may be provided and arranged as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, which show each clutch sleeve 27 having a clutch face adapted for engaging coacting 'faces 78-78 on their respective adjacent worm gears i6-76.

IQ-+79 designate levers for shifting the clutch 'sleeves as required.

By reason of the position of the'guide pulleys 95-96 with relation to the weight of the machine and the resistance oiiered by the cutting head engagingv the coal face, the pull on the winding cable 93 is such as will effect such bodily lateral movement of the machine over the mine floor, while the cable 94 on the opposite side of the machine is paying out and in order to compensate for any possible change in such balance of resistance, the brake 20 may be applied, as necessary, to the loosely running drum at the right side ci the machine and thereby so regulate, by increasing and reducing the braking power, as to' maintain the perfect balance oi the resistance at the cutter head end.

It is understood that the lett corner of the face of the wall to be cut is penetrated and cut away in a similar manner, as was the right hand corner, and by a mere reversal of the operation stated. a

In the practical application or my mining machine, suitable means is provided for gathering the cuttings made by the cutter head 6, as the latter isl being constantly advanced to the work and for conveying the asma dump by manual or mechanical means In the drawings, for illustration,v I have I show n a gatherer 25 into which the cuttings are received and from which they are moved by a screw conveyer26 that is mounted under the main base 3 and extends beyond the rear of the machine, as is indicated in Figures l and 2.

In practice, any suitable driving mean-s,

may be employed for driving the coal carrying conveyor 26 but, in Figure 5 I have illustrated one means in which such drive may be practically effected. For this purpose, lI provide the left hand worm shaft 86 with an extended portion 86u adapted to pass through a bearing therefor in the corresponding casing half 82 and to be supported in a suitable bracket member 86' fastened to the machine base. Between this shaft and the shaft of the conveyor a: power transmission means 28 'is provided whereby power is alpplied to the conveyor from the motor on t e machine base and to provide for the cutting out of the 4driving relation of these parts as may be desired, I provide a shifts able clutch device 29, as shown,

It is to b'e understood that while the continuity of the cutting face presented to the coal wall by the rotary cutting head is broken at points, due to the positioning of the bearings 50, the transmission means coo erative therewith, and the adjustment of t e adjustable section 64:, this fact does not interfere with the cutting action, the spaces being insucient to effect that fault, and the coal, being brittle, will 'be jarred from or fall naturally from lsuch narrow areas as are not actually engaged by the cutting bits.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the complete construction, the manner winding drums loosely mounted upon horizontal ares, cables secured to said drums and to predetermined red points within the mine, transmission means 'tor applying power from the power unit to the rotary cutting head and the drums, and means for retarding rotation of the drums as to cause bodily movement of the machine over the mine door diagonally forward, straight for ward or laterally.

2. A coal mining machine of the character described, comprising a base slidable over the mine floor, a power unit securely mounted upon said base to move therewith, a rotary cutting head having a vertically adjustable portion and being supported upon and in advance of said power unit to rotate ona vertical axis. a pair of oppositely disposed winding drums loosely mounted upon orizontal axes, cables secured to said drums and to predetermined fixed points within the mine, transmission means for applying power from `the power unit to the rotary cutting .head and the drums, and means for retarding rotation of the drums as to cause bodily movement of the machine over the mine floor dia onally forward, straight forward or lateral y, and means whereby the coal cut bythe rotary cutter head is gathered and conveyed rearwardly through the machine base. 3. A coal mining machine of the class described comprising the following elements in combination, a base slidable over the mine oor, a power unit secure upon said base and slidable therewith, a vertically disposed rotary cutting head supported upon and in advance of said power unit, a drivenshaft driven by said' power unit, transmission means for driving the rotary cutting head from said driven shaft, clutch devices for y throwing in or out said power transmission at will, a pair of oppositely `disposed winding drums each inc uding an internal rim gear portion and a hub portion, brake devices ccoperative with said hubl portions, power transmission means whereby each rum is driven independently of each other, clutch devices for causing said drums to :rotate in unison, singly or to be entirely inoperative, cables for cooperating with said drums, and guides for cooperating with said cables, substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

4. A coal mining machine of the class describedcomprising the followingy elements in combination, a base slidable over the mine ioor, a power unit secure upon said base and slidable therewith, a vertically disposed ro tary cutting head supported upon and in advance of said ower unit, a driven shaft driven by sai power unit, transmission means for driving the rotary cutting head from said driven shaft, clutch devices for throwing in or out said power transmission 'at will, a pair of oppositely disposed winding drums each including aninternal rim `gear portion and a hub portion, brake dements in combination, a base slidable over the. mine floor, a power unit secure upon said base and slidable therewith, a vertically disposed rotary cutting head supported upon and in advance of said power unit, a driven shaft driven by said power unit, transmission means for driving the rotary cutting head from said driven shaft, clutch devices for fthrowin in or out said power, transmission at Wil a pair of oppositely disposedwinding drums each including an internal rim gear portion and a hub portion, brake devices cooperative with said hub portions, power transmission means l whereby each drum 1s driven independently of each other, clutch devices for causing said drums t-o rotate in unison, singly or to beentirely inoperative, a housing for said drum actuating power transmission means and said clutch devices,y said housing being composed of half sections each adapted tocar one set of power transmittin and clutc mechanism and to form a hal bearing for the driven shaft, cables for cooperating with said drums, and guides for cooperating with said cables, means for gathering thek coal cut by the rotary cutting head, and

means driven from saidpower unit whereby the gathered coal is conveyed rearwardly through the machine base.

JAMES WALKER. 

